Perkins: I don’t think the vast majority of those who
are involved in homosexuality choose that lifestyle. You say what do you
mean by that? I mean that oftentimes it is the result of abuse, trauma,
something that happened in their lives that led them down this path and
that’s one of the reasons we’re very concerned about the Boy Scouts.
They’ve already had—last Fall by court order these files, what they call
the ‘perversion files’ with the Boy Scouts, detailed hundreds, hundreds
of cases that had happened between the 1960s and the mid-1980s and
that’s with the policy in place. With an open door policy it can only
get worse. So that could lead to these experiences and trauma for young
boys that could lead them into that lifestyle. So that’s one reason I
think parents are concerned and rightfully so.

Perkins: The national board released about 15,000 pages
of documentation on sexual predators and what had taken place in the
Scouts from 1960-1995. One lawsuit alone cost the Scouts a settlement of
about $20 million. Through the litigation the leading attorney who has
litigated for the families of what they called the ‘preyed upon
children’ estimates that each predator molested up to twenty-five
children, roughly 1,900 predators’ names were revealed. This is under
the current policy which forbids those who would be inclined to this
from coming in, what’s going to happen when they just throw the door
open?

It's strange that in his radio appearances, Perkins is constantly mentioning the (nonexistent) possibility of sexual abuse because it's not what he or FRC want folks to mention when they encourage them to call the Boy Scouts about the possible change in policy. They want folks to say this:

Sample Phone Script:

Hello, my name is _________, from __________.

Thank you for your service as a board member of the Boy Scouts of America.As you're aware, a new proposal indicates that the Boy Scouts of
America may revoke their longstanding policy of safeguarding Scouts by
restricting homosexuals from holding leadership positions over boys. For
decades, your national organization has kept the interest of the boys
it serves as the focus of all its actions. No matter what, the Boy
Scouts of America could be counted upon to do the right thing and not
yield to any social pressure, and has thus far stood strong.

Please do not jeopardize the safety and moral integrity of
Scouting in the interest of social activism. The proposal to relegate
the decision on homosexual leaders to local chartered organizations
sends the wrong signal from the national body: that political
correctness ultimately triumphs over character.

Please retain the current long-held and time-tested policy
regarding homosexual leadership and membership. America stands with you.
Lead the way. Please stand strong.

State Rep. Mark Baker (R-Rock Springs) again raised the public health argument in the debate on the House floor, claiming that "only 1 percent of homosexuals die of old age" and that domestic partnership would cause higher health care costs for the state, according to a tweet by Trevor Brown, the state government reporter for the Wyoming Tribune Eagle.

With the religious right all in a frenzy over ths possible change in the Boy Scouts policy of "no gays allowed," America has been subjected to all sorts of claims and images about "nubile innocent boys" at the so-called mercy of "predatory older Scoutmasters" in the middle of the forest with no one around to save them - not even Batman.

So I guess the following claim was bound to be heard. However, it makes one wonder if some of these folks attacking the Boy Scouts have forsaken all reason and are starting to borrow plots from pornographic movies.

Recently the Family Research Council's Tony Perkins and John Stemberger of the Florida Family Policy Council had an online "chat" about the many things wrong with the Boy Scouts changing its policy and the following came up via Stemberger:

The greatest threat immediately is going to be not just adults but it’s
going to be the kids. There are so many young people today in high
school and public school especially who are acting out homosexuality
just because it’s the popular and cool thing, so you’re going to have
lots of crazy stuff happening with boys. We’ve been through a whole
round of problems that the Scouts have had with improper conduct with
adults over the years and this just seems insanity to me that they would
open the door and allow openly gay leaders and boys to flourish.

In other words, according to Stemberger, if gays are allowed to participate in the Scouts, the young boys get together and do all sorts of stuff with each other.

As if they probably don't already. Don't blame us gays for that one. Curiosity about sex is a hallmark of childhood.

One gets the impression that Perkins, Stemberger and company will next be conjuring up visions of young boys in whips, and chains, and bondage outfits.

About Me

Alvin McEwen is 46-year-old African-American gay man who resides in Columbia, SC.
McEwen's blog, Holy Bullies and Headless Monsters, and writings have been mentioned by Americablog.com, Goodasyou.org, People for the American Way, PageOneQ.com, The Washington Post, Raw Story, The Advocate, Media Matters for America, Crooksandliars.com, Thinkprogress.org, Andrew Sullivan's Daily Dish, Melissa Harris-Perry, The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell, Newsweek, The Daily Beast, The Washington Blade, and Foxnews.com.
In addition, he is also a past contributor to Pam's House Blend,Justice For All, LGBTQ Nation, and Alternet.org. He is a present contributor to the Daily Kos and the Huffington Post,
He is the 2007 recipient of the Harriet Daniels Hancock Volunteer of the Year Award and the 2010 recipient of the Order of the Pink Palmetto from the SC Pride Movement as well as the 2009 recipient of the Audre Lorde/James Baldwin Civil Rights Activist Award from SC Black Pride. In addition, he is a three-time nominee of the Ed Madden Media Advocacy Award from SC Pride.